Grading Chicago Bulls' Final 15-Man Roster
The Chicago Bulls head into the regular season with one of the NBA's most robust rosters.
Headlined by returning point guard and former league MVP Derrick Rose, many believe the Bulls will finish as one of the top two in the Eastern Conference, competing with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Chicago bolstered its core by signing two-time champion and four-time All-Star Pau Gasol. He adds much-needed size and length up front and also brings his versatility on the offensive end.
The Bulls' shooting has also improved, as they traded for rookie Doug McDermott on draft night and signed 2011 draft pick and Euro star Nikola Mirotic. They join a second unit that houses Taj Gibson, Sixth Man of the Year runner-up in 2013-14.
Despite missing starting 2-guard Jimmy Butler, Tom Thibodeau was still able to use a 10-man rotation during Wednesday night's opener versus the New York Knicks, showing just how deep this new-look Bulls squad is.
Let's take a closer look at each position, starting with point guard and moving up from there.
Point Guard
1 of 5
Starter: Derrick Rose
Depth: Kirk Hinrich, Aaron Brooks, E’Twaun Moore
Rose finished the preseason in strong fashion, scoring 57 points across the final two games. The former league MVP finished with averages of 16.5 points and three assists. His three-point shooting was a welcome surprise, as he made 43 percent of his attempts.
Most importantly, though, his quickness and explosiveness looked as good as ever. He was a one-man fastbreak on multiple occasions, and he continued to show that in the regular-season opener against the Knicks.
Rose did struggle to finish around the rim at times, but his mid-range game was great. He was also breaking down the Knicks defense regularly, drawing double-teams and forcing New York to rotate as the Bulls got the ball to the open man.
While he played only 21 minutes, Rose showed how much of a threat he can be even when he's not trying to score. One of his best plays came as he dribbled up the court and toward the baseline near the corner. He knew Amar'e Stoudemire would leave Joakim Noah, and when he did, Rose whipped a pass to Noah, who found Kirk Hinrich for a wide-open three-point shot, which he knocked down.
It shows the respect defenses still have for Rose despite his previous injuries. Even if he doesn't score in bunches, Rose affects the game by simply being on the court, and it's a boost Chicago's offense has desperately needed the past couple of seasons.
Hinrich filled in for the injured Butler, scoring 12 points on 40 percent shooting. Hinrich isn't a scorer, but his leadership and defensive versatility are key for Chicago, especially if Tony Snell doesn't play much once Butler returns.
Fortunately for the Bulls, scoring is Aaron Brooks' forte. Brooks has the range and explosiveness to be the Bulls' spark off the bench. He's been in two-guard lineups alongside Hinrich as an off-the-ball scorer and has excelled, getting into the paint, coming off curls and screens and knocking down three-point shots.
Brooks took advantage of the Knicks guards Wednesday night, getting into the paint at will and making some tough-angled shots near the rim.
Chicago's backcourt gets a big upgrade with Rose returning, and Brooks was a sneaky-good signing who could prove to be highly valuable to the Bulls offense.
Final Grade: A
Shooting Guard
2 of 5
Starter: Jimmy Butler
Depth: Tony Snell
The Bulls will be without their starting 2-guard for a minimum of two weeks, as K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reported on Twitter.
It's a pretty big blow to the starting lineup, too. As Bulls stat maven Jeff Mangurten pointed out on Twitter, Rose, Butler and Noah have played a total of 221 minutes together over the past three years.
Butler's outstanding preseason was cut short by the thumb injury, but in the six games he did play, the 25-year-old budding guard averaged just under 16 points and shot 58 percent from the floor. Butler looked like a different player compared to the last two seasons. He was a lot more aggressive, and his mid-range jump shot was a lot more consistent.
Butler's elite perimeter defense is what makes him extremely valuable in Tom Thibodeau's scheme, and his ability to telegraph passes also plays a big part in Chicago's transition game.
Sophomore guard Tony Snell saw some extended time due to the injury, and his lone basket was a super-athletic finish over a Knick defender in the closing minutes of the game. Snell is likely to ride the bench once Butler comes back, but Chicago recently picked up his third-year option, so the organization must have a plan for him in the future.
Final Grade: B
Small Forward
3 of 5
Starter: Mike Dunleavy
Depth: Doug McDermott
One of the Bulls' biggest points of emphasis over the past couple of years has been three-point shooting. That's exactly what they have at the small forward position.
Mike Dunleavy had a great preseason, converting 44 percent of his long-range attempts. While he was unable to maintain that rate against the Knicks, the 13-year vet stepped up to the plate by guarding Carmelo Anthony, who finished with just 14 points on 38 percent shooting.
His backup also shined during his NBA debut.
After struggling with his shot throughout the preseason (28 percent from downtown), McDermott made the most of his 24 minutes Wednesday night, scoring 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, two of them three-point makes.
The Creighton product looked confident and didn't hesitate to shoot, which bodes well for the near future as he'll be playing a good amount of minutes with Butler out. It will take some time for McDermott to fully integrate himself in the offense and grasp Thibodeau's system—especially his complex defense—but all signs are pointing up at the moment for the rookie.
Final Grade: B
Power Forward
4 of 5
Starter: Pau Gasol
Depth: Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic, Cameron Bairstow
It was somewhat of a disappointing preseason for Chicago's marquee free-agent acquisition. Gasol averaged just over 10 points, but his rebounding was strong at eight per night.
What saved his otherwise pedestrian exhibition run was his defense, primarily his rim protection. Gasol blocked over two shots per game and proved to be a clear upgrade over the smaller Carlos Boozer.
The Spaniard shook off the cobwebs during the opener, though, posting a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Gasol was aggressive the entire game, attacking Samuel Dalembert and Cole Aldrich with ease. He finished around the rim successfully and got to the line eight times.
He wasn't the only frontcourt player who dominated, however, as Gibson came in scorching hot off the bench.
As the Bulls' sixth man, Gibson built on his breakout 2013-14 campaign, scoring a game-high 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting while grabbing eight rebounds. The 29-year-old forward displayed a deadly mid-range jump shot, even better than last year's. He also beat the Knicks bigs on the glass consistently, snatching three offensive boards in the process.
Gibson is rapidly rising through the ranks as one of the league's best two-way power forwards and will once again be a prime candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Bulls rookie Mirotic played just 15 minutes in the opener, but he gave us a glimpse at his ability to function as a stretch 4, knocking down one three and collecting seven rebounds.
Chicago may very well have the NBA's best frontcourt, especially when you factor in Noah at center.
Final Grade: A
Center
5 of 5
Starter: Joakim Noah
Depth: Nazr Mohammed
The 29-year-old center had a quiet preseason, averaging under six points per game and less than one block per contest. As Noah looks to build on his All-NBA season, he'll have to overcome one main hurdle—his recovery from knee surgery.
Noah looked well against New York, but he didn't have to play much, as the Bulls took control of the game in the second half, blowing out the Knicks in Madison Square Garden.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year will be Chicago's anchor in the paint once again, and he'll also look to build on his improving offense. He showed incredible versatility last season, scoring in a variety of ways and displaying some of the best passing by a center the league has ever seen.
It could be a slow start for Noah as he continues to recover from surgery, but he remains one of the best centers in the Association.
While there is no "real" backup for Noah, Chicago's deep frontcourt allows it to get by without one. Both Gasol and Gibson can slide up when needed—more so Gasol given his height—and with Mirotic also a viable frontcourt option, the Bulls don't have to worry about having a center on the bench. If injuries arise, it could become an issue, but an adjustment in the rotation could remedy it.
For now, Noah and Co. are more than enough.
Final Grade: A
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